There was no getting out of it. I could have denied saying it all I wanted, but it wouldn't have mattered. The asshole wouldn't have believed me, and he wasn't going to let it go. I could tell that from the cocky look that covered his face before he spoke.
“Were you dreaming about me, princess?” he asked.
My eyes were glued to his tongue when he licked those damn lips from one side to the other. I could have sworn that time had stopped and that the tiny trail his tongue made had taken an entire hour. It had been years since a man had me clenching my thighs in real life, but Parker had managed it more than once in just a few short minutes.
“Shit!” I let out, as I leaned my head back into the rough brick of the building behind me.
I was so relieved that night Jenny climbed into bed without saying a thing about it. I'd kept it all in my dream. I hadn't said it out loud. That was what I'd thought anyway. Embarrassment hit me all over again, and I was so damn glad there wasn't anyone there to see my cheeks change shades of red a second time. What if Sammie or Lance had heard her? What if she brought it up again later? The questions started flying through my mind. What would that look like? Jeff was a cheater. There was no way I wanted to look like one too. That dream was before our talk. It was before I knew, positively, that I didn't want him back. It was also after I found him with her and after I'd left him. I hadn't done anything wrong. Jeff was the wrong one. We were over. There was no way I could ever look at him and feel love again. I'd done nothing wrong. It was just a dream.
“Fuck, Cassie,” I whispered. “It was a damn dream.”
“Was it?” the soft whisper broke through the silence.
My eyes popped open, and I quickly pushed off of the wall I'd been using to hold myself up.
“It was,” I replied, as I tried my best to sound confident and not like a needy mess.
He took a step toward me, and I stood strong.
“What did I do in your dream, princess?” he asked in a sexy tone that had my knees going weak.
He didn't give me time to answer before he took another step forward and continued.
“Did I take that bottom lip between my teeth before opening that sexy mouth to me and fucking it with my tongue?” he asked, and my body shivered.
When his lips curved into a smile and I watched his eyes darken, it took all I had not to reach for him. The look on his face had me wanting something, anything. For a moment, he made me feel desired. Then I remembered how I looked and that feeling quickly faded. I heard a low growl escape him, and he stepped toward me again, leaving only an inch or so of space between us.
“Did I do more than kiss you, princess?” he asked. The tone in his voice felt so innocent but so dirty at the same time. “What really happened in that dream of yours? Did I get down on my knees with my mouth between those sexy legs, or did I bend you over and fuck you nice and slow?”
The moan escaped me before I even knew it was coming. The rumble in his chest told me I wasn't the only one feeling something.
“Princess,” he said, as his eyes closed for just a second.
“Yes,” I whispered, as our eyes connected again.
“Fuck it,” he hissed, before taking another step forward and taking away the only space that was left between us.
His hand came up and gripped the back of my neck, as his mouth came down on mine. His lips were so soft and warm against mine. It was the exact opposite of the man I'd met those few times. When his tongue came out and traced my lips, desire and need shot through me. He grabbed my bottom lip between his teeth and pulled it down. The gasp that left me opened my mouth even more. When his tongue dove in for mine, his body moved forward, slamming mine into the brick behind me. My hands moved back to hold the wall, to stay connected to the world around us. His tongue moved against mine, and he held total control of my mouth. The way his body felt against mine had my knees going weak and my legs giving out. He pushed his hips forward, keeping me from going down and giving me the opportunity to feel just how hard and ready he was. My hips moved forward on their own. I wanted to get closer to him. He kissed me so deep and with such passion that I honestly forgot where I was. The feeling of his tongue wrapping around mine had me moaning into his mouth. Just as my hands moved from the wall and began sliding from his waist up the front of his body, he took a step back, causing us both to gasp for air and me to reach back and grip the wall to prevent myself from falling. My eyes found his, and I watched something change in him. I couldn't explain it if I had to, but something had happened. He took another step back and pulled his eyes away from mine, breaking our connection.
“Was it better in real life?” he asked in a cocky tone.
There I was, standing there, holding the wall for support and practically panting. My fingers moved to my lips as I gave him a slight nod.
Without another word, he turned and walked away. He was supposed to suck. His kisses were supposed to be sloppy and gross in real life. That was what I'd wanted anyway, but that wasn't what I'd gotten. The feeling that ripped through my chest, as I watched his retreating back, hurt like you wouldn't believe. It wasn't desire that filled him. He hadn't wanted me. All he'd wanted was for me to admit that I'd had a dream about him and that he kissed better when I was awake than when I was asleep. He'd followed me out there and rocked my world just to prove a damn point.
“Asshole,” I yelled, as I watched him turn the corner, leaving me completely alone again.
Chapter 5
Parker
It took all I had to walk away from her. In that moment, I wanted to do so much more than just kiss her. I shouldn't have even done that. I couldn't believe how damn good it felt having her lips against mine. When her hands touched me, it brought me back to reality like a cold shower. I pulled away quickly. Shit! There was no way I wanted to piss off the Reids or the Smiths. They were crazy when it came to family. I couldn't just walk away though. That would be a dick move. Before I thought about it, I blurted out the first thing that popped into my mind.
“Was it better in real life?” I asked. Damn! That wasn't a dick move at all, I thought, as I silently scolded myself.
Seeing her against that wall, trying to hold herself up after just one kiss, told me everything I needed to know, but I waited for her answer anyway. I didn't think it was possible, but the second her fingers moved across her plump, sexy lips and she nodded, my cock hardened even more.
I had to get away from her. If I'd stood there a moment longer, her jeans would have been around her knees, and she would have been bent over against that very same wall. My feet couldn't get me away fast enough, but I didn't miss the word asshole fly through the air behind me. The woman was enough to drive me insane, and she was the exact kind of woman I was trying to avoid. Cassie wasn't a quick fuck. She couldn't be. I had to stay away from her. She was one of Lance's, and I'd seen first hand what it looks like when you fuck with one of his. James was the perfect example. When Lance found out about him and Sammie, he broke his damn nose. I wasn't and would never be in for the long haul, not with Cassie or anyone else, and I needed my nose exactly as it was. I knew all of that, yet not one bit of it stopped me from wondering what was going through that pretty head of hers as I walked away. It also couldn't stop me from thinking about getting that same reaction again.
When I walked back inside to get back to Lance and the kids, Lauren looked at me with a huge smile on her face. When had she come in, I wondered?
“Parker,” Jackson called out, as he came running over. “Will you play catch with me?”
“Of course,” I said, as I walked right by his mom without another word.
What was that about, I wondered? It was nothing. Lauren always had a smile on her face. She was another good one. Those damn guys were all lucky. It was actually a little aggravating at times.
When Cassie came back in, I made sure not to look at her. She's close to Lance, and that fucker is crazy, I repeated in my mind anytime I even considered looking her way. I nee
ded to keep my head right where it belonged. There was already way too much going on in my life to add her to the equation. I was pretty sure she wasn't looking my way either. If she was, it would have been with daggers, not admiration. Not to mention, I would have felt that shit, I always did. It was the weirdest thing.
Chapter 6
Cassie
The next two weeks had me on pins and needles. I hadn't told them that I'd met up with Jeff, and I wasn't any closer to knowing what I was going to do. It wasn't like I could talk it through with anyone. They all had an opinion when it came to him, and not one of them was good. Why bring it up if it wouldn't change anything? So, I kept it to myself, and it was driving me crazy.
I also couldn't stop thinking of Parker. Pete, I thought and couldn't stop the smile that came to the surface. The thought of his name seemed to be the only thing bringing me any joy. It wasn't his name as much as his reaction to his name. Every time I thought about it, that damn kiss and his naughty words popped into my mind, and I'd find myself thinking about him in a whole different way. That was not the way I needed to be thinking either. He was a cocky asshole that I needed to stay as far away from as possible. I already had more than enough on my plate. Adding him to it would have been an enormous mistake. Enormous, I thought. Was he? He felt pretty damn big pressed against me. Shit!
I'd been to Sammie's place a few times in those two weeks, and Parker hadn't been there once. Lauren and Jackson had gone with us each time. I heard her ask Sammie a few times where Parker was, and I couldn't help the jealous feeling that came over me when she did. There was no missing how head over heels in love she was with her husband. Not to mention, she was having his baby. Their house was almost ready. That was all they talked about, and poor Jackson couldn't wait. All he wanted was a tree house, but he couldn't get that until their real house was ready. They were a very happy family, so there was no reason for me to feel anything when she asked about Parker, but I did. Ugh!
Jeff had given me a deadline, and that deadline was up. His meeting, the whole reason he'd wanted me there, had passed, and I still hadn't heard from him. I couldn't help but wonder if he'd taken her instead. He'd assured me she was gone, but I wasn't sure what to believe. I knew he was going to do something. He wasn't going to let it go. The old Jeff might have, but not the new one, whoever he was. I found myself checking my phone often for messages and even looking out the windows to make sure his car wasn't parked outside, but there was nothing.
That Friday afternoon, Sammie decided to take the kids for a walk to the playground. The weather wasn't bad, but the cold was quickly coming. Since Jake was asleep for a nap, he stayed with me. I'd just turned the television on and sat down to watch a show when I heard a knock at the door. Sammie must have forgotten her keys, I thought. Without even looking out first, I pulled the door open. On the other side of it, I found a man I didn't recognize with a long envelope in his hand.
“James isn't home,” I said, thinking he was there to see my brother.
“Cassandra Randolph?” he asked in a very professional tone.
“Yes,” I answered, with confusion filling me.
The man reached out the hand with the envelope in it. Without thinking, I took it from him.
“You've been served,” he said, before turning around, walking down the porch steps, and continuing down the driveway.
I looked down at the envelope and then back toward the man. Where had he come from, I wondered? There wasn't a car in the driveway. I looked around to make sure Sammie wasn't around or coming back from the park yet. She would have been all over that, and I wasn't even sure what that was exactly. I stepped back inside the house and closed the door. The only time I'd ever heard someone say those words before was on television when someone was being sued. That wasn't me. When I looked back at the envelope again, I saw a lawyer's name, with a Michigan address, on it. Had that guy come all the way from Michigan, I wondered? It had to have something to do with Jeff, but what was it? He couldn't be suing me. I'd never done anything to harm him or anyone else. I headed up the stairs to my room, so nervous but so curious at the same time.
“What have you done now?” I whispered, before closing the door to my room and walking over to sit on the edge of my bed.
I slowly ripped the envelope open, so afraid of what I was going to find. When I pulled the papers out and saw what it was, my heart hurt and I felt sick to my stomach. He'd filed for divorce. The tears started before I could fight them off. Of course that would be how he would tell me. I scooted back on my bed and began reading them over. Each new word brought fresh tears. Before I was finished reading, they were streaming down both of my cheeks.
Jeff was going to fight me for everything, literally everything. He wanted both homes, both vehicles, all the money, and full custody of our three children. I couldn't believe what I'd just read. He wanted to leave me with nothing, not a single thing. How could he do that? Will they give it to him? My mind was going faster than ever. How the fuck was I supposed to fight him? How was I supposed to get a lawyer to fight back if I didn't have a dollar to my name? Shit! What was I going to do?
I got up from the bed, shoved the papers into my purse, grabbed my phone, pulled the covers on my bed back, and crawled under them. I rolled onto my side, pulled the covers up around my neck, and stared at the wall in front of me. I couldn't stop the tears. There was no way. He was forcing me to go back to him, but I didn't want to. Any love I'd ever felt for that man was gone. I never wanted to see him again.
When I heard my door open, I kept very still. It was Sammie, and there was no way I was facing her right then. I couldn't do it.
“Are you seriously asleep?” I heard her ask. “It must be nice. I can't believe you sometimes. Three of those kids are yours.”
Then she let out a huff and the door closed. The tears came even faster. Is that how everyone felt about me, I wondered? Did my own parents feel the way she did? Did everyone think I was a loser that did nothing for myself? I knew Jeff did. He'd mentioned several times how he felt. He'd laughed each time too. I sat up in my bed, and with each second that went by, I felt my hurt turn to anger. How could he do this, I wondered? How could someone that's supposed to love me hurt me so badly? Did he ever love me? He was the one that was wrong. As devastated as I was that he'd cheated, I would never have done something to hurt him the way he was hurting me. There was no way he could take everything from me, and he most definitely was not taking the kids. I picked up my phone, and my fingers hovered over the letters. I couldn't remember ever being so hurt or angry in all my life.
Me: You can't be serious?
I knew it wouldn't be long before he'd reply. He was probably sitting around waiting with a sleazy grin on his face. I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to trust anyone again after the shit he was putting me through.
Jeff: You had two weeks, and you didn't come back.
Me: So this is my punishment?
Jeff: What did you expect?
Me: You can't leave me with nothing, Jeff. We've been together for over five years.
Jeff: What's that supposed to mean?
Me: You can't do this. What kind of man reports his wife's cards stolen? How am I supposed to get a lawyer?
Jeff: That sounds like a personal problem to me.
Me: What the hell happened to you?
Jeff: I'm the same man I've always been, Cassie.
Me: Then how could I have ever loved you?
Jeff: You've always been a spoiled little bitch. I always gave you what you wanted. Stop being so selfish. You're not the only one you're hurting here.
Me: Like you're hurt.
Jeff: No, not me. What about the kids? Think about everything they could have if they were here. You won't be able to give them even half of what I will. I'm sure a judge will see that too.
Me: You can't do this. You've cut us off, and now you're wanting to take everything, including them. There's no way. You didn't even want the baby. You haven't even asked ab
out them once since we've been gone.
Jeff: I already told you how to solve this, Cassie. It's actually very simple. You're making this out to be harder than it really is. You come home, and I'll call it off.
Me: Why do you even care if I'm there? You were with her for well over a year, Jeff.
Jeff: You're my wife, and you belong here. When I go to meetings and events, it's you that everyone looks for. They expect you to be there with me. That's where you belong.
Anger was bubbling up inside of me, and it was getting worse with each new text.
Me: So, I'm good for business. How was your meeting?
Jeff: Much better than I'd originally planned.
Me: Was she there with you?
Jeff: Stop being so dramatic. I already told you she's gone.
I was so pissed that I couldn't even reply. Dramatic! He wasn't just cheating on me. He'd done if for over a year, gotten me pregnant while it was going on, and had her living in my house while he had me hidden away.
Jeff: I do have to say I'm surprised.
Me: Why?
Jeff: I honestly expected you to go off about the houses or that Escalade of yours, but you didn't, you mentioned the kids first. I didn't see that coming. Maybe there's hope for you yet.
I felt like my head was going to explode. I was so pissed off. What was he saying? I loved my kids more than a damn vehicle or a house. How could he say that? He was the one that hired a nanny to help me. He was the one that demanded I have dinner and spend the evenings with him. Demanded, I thought. Was he right? Was he the same man he'd always been? He said before that I'd always done what I was told. Had I really? I'd wanted him to be happy. He worked hard for us. I did the things I did because I wanted to be with him and spend time with him. I loved him. Of course I loved that he bought me things and that I was able to shop with my friends and do nice things. That didn't mean that I didn't love him. Was I just arm candy to him? Had he ever felt for me what I'd felt for him? Was it all for show?
Out of My League: Complete Box Set Page 10